Chain



UNITED STATES DENNIS I. SULLIVAN, OF STREATOR, ILLINOIS.

CHAIN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 26, 1921.

Application filed September 2, 1919. Serial No. 321,192.

T 0 all 10 hom it may concern Be it known that I, DENNIS L. SULLIVAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Streator, in the county of La Salle and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Chains, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention pertains to links for chains, and it contemplates the provision of a link for the purpose set forth that may be easily and cheaply produced and one that may be quickly and readily removed from the chain and as quickly and readily replaced when occasion demands and this without the employment of any tool whatsoever.

The invention in all of its details will be fully understood from the following description and claim when the same is read in connection with the drawings, accompanying and forming part of this specification, in which Figure l is a side elevation of a chain comprised of my novel links.

Fig. 2 is a view illustrating one link retained by another and how the said links are prevented from becoming detached.

Fig. 3, shows the position the said links illustrated in Fig. 2 assume when they are in proper position to be removed.

Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all of the views of the drawings.

My novel link 1 is of the ordinary wellknown construction with the exception that one of its sides has a portion removed therefrom. The size of the portion removed depends upon the diameter of the sides of the links'and hence if the links are one-half inch in diameter, the portion removed would be approximately one-half inch, or slightly less.

The portion of link that is removed therefrom leaves an opening 2 approximately 45 degrees to the sides of the link; the wall on each side of the opening being at the same an le with respect to each other.

Vhen it is desired to remove a link from the chain, it is simply necessary to place the link to be removed and its complementary link at right angles to each other with the opening in each link registering; then with the upper link held in the right hand and the lower link in the left hand the lower link is placed in a vertical plane to the right hand link, and the openings of each link passed through each other, as clearl appears in Fig. 3. It will be seen by reference to the drawings, the one opening will ride through the other opening and the point of one angle bears against the side of the opposing link and hence because of this novel construction with links may be easily and quickly removed with respect to each other.

It will be manifest that accidental displacement of one link from another will be practically impossible, because of the fact, as before stated, the openings of the links must be at right angles to each other and also, said openings must be moved at such angle with respect to each other, and the chances of this being casually brought about is reduced to a minimum.

My novel link is possessed of great strength notwithstanding the fact that a portion thereof is removed and because of its construction may be used to advantage by persons without help and when employed on the traces of harness will not become displaced when a team is descending a grade because of the fact that the links must assume the position shown in Fig. 3 in order to become displaced from each other.

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, is:

A link having an opening in one of its sides, the walls of said opening being parallel and at anacute angle to the longitudinal axis of the link, whereby a link of similar construction may be readily connected to the first named link, and secured against accidental disconnection therefrom.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

DENNIS L. SULLIVAN.

Witnesses:

P. J. PRENDERGAST, P. J. BRADY. 

